Wasps’ team for European Champions Cup Quarter Final

Wasps’ team for European Champions Cup Quarter Final against Exeter Chiefs

Wasps’ Director of Rugby Dai Young has named his side to take on Exeter Chiefs in the European Champions Cup Quarter Final at the Ricoh Arena this Saturday, kick off 15.15.

James Haskell will captain the side as he returns to join George Smith and Nathan Hughes in Wasps’ back row, while Charles Piutau and Dan Robson have both recovered from injury to take their place in an otherwise unchanged backline.

There is also a welcome return for scrum half Joe Simpson, who is named on the bench and is set to make his first appearance for Wasps since sustaining an ankle injury during Wasps’ final European pool round match, against Leinster on 23 January.

In the pack, Carlo Festuccia comes in at hooker and Kearnan Myall lines up alongside Joe Launchbury, to form Wasps’ second row partnership.

Ahead of the European Cup tie, Dai Young said: “We’re all looking forward to Saturday’s Quarter Final and a fantastic European occasion for everyone associated with Wasps and Exeter Chiefs.

“This is where we as coaches, players and supporters want to be, competing against the best teams in Europe and challenging for honours.

“It has been a real squad effort to reach the last eight and we are proud to have come through such a tough pool to earn a home Quarter Final, but we obviously don’t want it to end here.

“Everything now comes down to 80 minutes this Saturday. This is knockout rugby at the highest level that any player can compete at with their club.

“Exeter Chiefs have been excellent all season. They put almost 20 points on us when we met at the Ricoh Arena in the Premiership earlier this season, so they certainly had the measure of us that day. We’d like to think we’ve improved since then, but the proof will be in the pudding this Saturday and we know the challenge will be just as great.”

Wasps’ team

15. Charles Piutau

14. Christian Wade

13. Elliot Daly

12. Siale Piutau

11. Frank Halai

10. Jimmy Gopperth

9. Dan Robson

1. Matt Mullan

2. Carlo Festuccia

3. Jake Cooper-Woolley

4. Joe Launchbury

5. Kearnan Myall

6. James Haskell (c)

7. George Smith

8. Nathan Hughes

16. Ashley Johnson

17. Simon McIntyre

18. Lorenzo Cittadini

19. Bradley Davies

20. Thomas Young

21. Joe Simpson

22. Ruaridh Jackson

23. Rob Miller

Tickets

Around 24,000 are expected at the Ricoh Arena this Saturday, to watch the European clash. Tickets are still available. Prices for tickets purchased in advance of match day start from £16. Under 10s can come for free in categories three and four.